Spelling and Society: The Culture and Politics of Orthography around the World by Sebba, Mark

ISBN: 9780521300759

Cambridge University Press,26 January 2012

Paperback, 210 pages

Spelling matters to people. In America and Britain every day, members of the public write to the media on spelling issues, and take part in spelling contests. In Germany, a reform of the spelling system has provoked a constitutional crisis; in Galicia, a 'war of orthographies' parallels an intense public debate on national identity; on walls, bridges and trains globally, PUNX and ANARKISTS proclaim their identities orthographically. The way we spell often represents an attempt to associate with, or dissociate from, other languages. In Spelling and Society, Mark Sebba explores why matters of orthography are of real concern to so many groups, as a reflection of culture, history and social practices, and as a powerful symbol of national or local identity. This 2007 book will be welcomed by students and researchers in English language, orthography and sociolinguistics, and by anyone interested in the importance of spelling in contemporary society.

Editorial Reviews

Review
Review of the hardback: 'Mark Sebba goes beyond a description of the culture and the politics of orthography around the globe ... such a 'sociolinguistics of orthography' has been missing from the literature.' Pragmatics

'Spelling and Society is a well written, researched, and structured book, with each chapter partitioned into reasonably-sized, subtitled sections, making for an enjoyable read.' Lionel Mathieu, Linguist List

Book Description
2007 text discussing the cultural and political importance of spelling in modern society from a sociolinguistic viewpoint.